Refrigerating apparatus for producing frozen confections



TIONS Feb. 23, 1954 L. J. NAUROTH REFRIGERATING APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FROZEN CONFEC Filed July 27, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 LARRY AMI/R INVENTR.

A TTORNEY ONFECTIONS Feb. 23, 1954 J. NAUROTH RATING APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FROZEN C REFRIGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 27, 1951 ZA/PRY J /VA UROTH INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 23, 1954 ES N T ()FF LF-hil 2,665,852

REFRIGERATING APP DUCING FROZE ,AEATUS EORLPRO- N CONFECTION S iolzarry miNauroth, Dallascz'lex. epnlicanaulmrgzz 1951,.S'rial Noii238i867 insimuitaneously "a plurality, of molds; "JThe' apg paratusmust be 'oapable of continuous operation so'that: as molds" whose "contents ,pare'frozen-zare :;removed' from "one .end of the apparatus molds "containing "liquid .may; be. inserted in the oppofsite end of the apparatus. In'orderthatraxmaxi- 't-jmumuate, of' production b'e :obtained, thercooling iquid in which them'olds :are' usually immersed ;i. must be thoroughixeirou ted-around the-molds as they. are moved through the "apparatus" to absorb heatof ithe'inolds andztheir contents.

Accordingly, it is an- *obj ect' ofpthe invention ,to provide 'a'. new. and improved refrigerating ap- .paratus.

:1", It is 'another object ofthe invention to "provide :a new andimproved'refrigcrating-apparatus"for iffibbling molds to freezezthe contents thereof.

jlflt vis"'sti11 another object of the-invention to ;.;:;provide :a newiand, improved refrigeratingwappacrews for coolin molds with a-"refrigeran't 1iquidin which the, molds are immersed.

7" It is "a; furtherijobject or .theqinvention to :progit-widen ta. new and. improved. refrigerating appawlratuswherein a"re frigerat ng liquid is circulated Llahoutsmolds.whosewcontents are, to be cooled or cirozen.

gt.- It isla stillifurther"object ,of thelinviention to elprovide a. new .randdimproyed refrigerating apwparatus provided withmeans forthoroughly circ'ulating ,agreifrigerating.liquid about molds imimmersed .in the liquid.

Briefly .H stated, gthe inewmand. improved. -reiiiirigerat ng .Uapparatus for cooling. molds im- .;.mersed in a refrigerating'liquidincludes an elonwateurectangular .jhe'at insulated cabinet in which" izaiiejdisposed the -,.coo1ing1i'coils of a conventional ilrefrigerating system. i A horizontal, deck extends overt the cooling coils J between the, inner-.. side walls ofwthe. cabinet.) to The opposite; sides. of .Lthe

with a pump for circulating a refrigerating liquid @ldecbabutithe innersidewalls of the cabinet lbut :from :one endv of the fzcabinet"--beneatlrfithe "deck and ovei the 'coolingcoils: The; deck is maro- :Qvided' with a fDllIlBilitY" ofxspacedtldngitndinal "'guideirails which serve to'g'uide' molds alongrthe I "surface ofirth'ex deck and maintain -the-"inolds in :,alignmenttthereon;" The' deck is providedwith pa pluraiityof rows of longitudinallyspaiced aperadjacentgnide rails order "that" refrigerating liquiddriven by 'the.:pumpwill hemmed-upward- 1y; through the: ,apertures-ragainst-the"molds: as

.i the molds pass over the: deckfromlonefend there- M of to thei'other. "A'valve; orgateis "siidablyr and ajdjustably mounted underneath thedeck towary the opening between .one end *dfthe deck audit-he adjacent r interior" end" wall or the" "cabinet? to "regulate; :the rate ofzflow of. the refrigerating 1 vliquid through the apertures inthe deck.

For a "better understanding: of thefinvention reference may be had tothe.f01lowing description' taken in' conneetiori' with the accompanying drawingand its'scope-will' be pointedout. in the appended'claims.

-In the drawing,

Figure 1 ,is a perspectivehview ofareirigerat- ;ing apparatus; forc'ooling orrfreezing liquidsmom tained immolds;

i Figure 2 is "a: side view, with portions: of: .tthe apparatus broken away; ofi-zthe apparatus "shown inFigure' 1* illustrating the'circulation' ofi-the refrigerating liquidinthe "cabinet i 'Figure: '3 is "asectionaliview' taken onthe fline 3 3 of'Figure 2.

Figure 4i.is a firagmentary'perspectivewiew of ..the'valve orgate: for controlling theratroffi-flow of the refrigeratingliquid: through the apertures inrthe deck;

{Figure 5 is a; longitudinal sectional view,.'.,taken along the. line 5-"-5 of Figure 6,of, aim'old onlthe deck of the refrigerating appartus; and,

.I FigureG isla bottomplan view. of a mold.

'1' Referring now to thedrawing ,the refrigerating apparatus :l'lzincludes an elongate rectarigular l.,.insulate1d tank I lthayinguend :wens i2; and] 3, "sidewalls l4 andfl5; and a bottom l6iiAll'iwalls A are 7 of double,eonstructionlandifilledfiivithfLa heat .s insulating .-material' l I. l nAwplurality. of obbling coils iii are mounted inlthef cabinet inuanycontventional manner and a,lliquifiedLrefrigerantgas is admitted to .ithei cooling ;Lcoi1s..through;1header WIB' which is connected toaiconventional surge .-.dr uir1 Zll ,thrOugh a, pine? I; ",The gasileaveshithe cooling. 1 coilsmthroush ,arheadrw 22' which liaisonnected. ctolathe surge. ithrough. a mind; 23. The surge drum is connected inthe conventional manner to a compressor, not shown, and has a fitting 24 which is connected to the suction line of the compressor and a fitting 25 which is connected to the liquid return line of the compressor. Since the operation of the refrigerating system which supplies a liquified refrigerant gas, such as ammonia, to the header l9 and exhausts the gas from the header 22 is conventional and well known, it will not be described in detail.

A horizontal support or deck 25 is secured to the side walls of the tank in any conventional manner as by an angle iron 27 mounted on each side wall 14 and l by welding or other conventional means. The angle iron 21 mounted on the Wall [5 can be seen in Figure 2. The deck 26 is shorter in length than the inner length of the tank ll, its opposite ends being spaced from the end walls I2 and 13. A vertical end partition 28 is secured to the end of the deck adjacent the end wall and extends downwardly to the bottom [6 of the tank H. The vertical partition 23 also extends from one side wall of the tank to the other so that liquid from the space 29 between the end wall i2 and the partition can flow to the cooling coils beneath the deck only through an aperture 30 provided in the partition. A pump or propeller 3| is disposed in the aperture 30 and is mounted on a shaft 32 which extends through a stuffing box 33 mounted on the end wall l2. The stuffing box forms a liquid tight seal between the end wall l2 and the shaft. The shaft 32 is rotated by an electric motor 34 mounted on a bracket 35 secured to the end wall I2 in any conventional manner. The pulleys 36 and 31 on the shaft 32 and the shaft 3% of the motor, respectively, are connected by the belt 39 so that rotation of the motor shaft 38 causes rotation of the shaft 32 and the propeller 3|. The propeller 3| causes the refrigerating liquid in the tank to circulate, with considerable turbulence both below and above the deck in the manner indicated by the arrows and which has been found to promote a more rapid and efficient refrigeration.

A valve or gate 40 is secured to the end of the deck 26 opposite the partition 28 by means of channels 4i and 42 secured to the underside of the deck by welding. The ends of the gate slide in the channels so that the gate may be adjusted to vary the opening between the gate and the end wall It for a purpose to be described below. The gate may be provided with upwardly projecting handles 43 and 44.

A plurality of spaced guide rails 45 extend longitudinally on the top surface of the deck 25 and are secured to it by welding or other conventional means. The guide rails in effect form a plurality of longitudinal channels. The ends of the guide rails adjacent the wall l3 terminate in upwardly extending ends 4P5 which facilitate the loading of molds between each pair of guide rails. The opposite ends of the guide rails have upwardly inclined portions 4'! which rest on the drain pan 43 mounted on the end wall l2. It will be apparent that molds resting between and on each pair of adjacent guide rails may be easily pulled or pushed up the inclined portions 41 to the drain pan 48.

The deck 25 is provided with a plurality of longitudinal rows of spaced apertures 49, each row of apertures being aligned between adjacent guide rails 45 of the deck. The apertures 49 facilitate the circulation of the refrigerant liquid, usually brine, contained in the tank about the undersides of the mold assemblies 50 which are positioned between each pair of guide rails and moved from the end wall 13 along the guide rails to the drain pan 48. Each mold assembly includes a rectangular mold frame or carrier 5| having downwardly and inwardly tapered end walls 52 and 53, and inwardly tapered side walls 54 and 55. The end walls are provided with a plurality of apertures 56 while the side walls are provided with slots 51. The apertures 56 and slots 51 are provided to allow a free circulation of the refrigerating fluid about the undersides of the mold 58 which is seated in the carrier or frame 5|. The side walls 54 and 55 and transverse members 58a are provided to prevent outward spreading of the side walls. The mold has a plurality of cups 59 in which individual stick confections may be frozen. The walls 60 of adjacent cups 59 converge upwardly leaving vertical spaces Bl between individual cups through which the refrigerating liquid may circulate to cool all sides of each cup.

It will now be apparent that as each mold travels over the apertures 4'9 between a pair of guide rails, the refrigerating liquid expelled upwardly through the apertures 49 will flow into the spaces 6! between the cups 59 and will convey heat away from the cups and the liquid contained therein. A certain proportion of the refrigerating liquid will also flow up through the aperture between the gate 40 and the end wall l3 of the tank and then over the deck 26 and between the spaced rows of molds between the guide rails. Some of this refrigerating liquid will also, of course, flow through the spaces 5| between the cups 59 of individual molds. The provision of the rows of apertures 49, however, greatly increases the circulation of the refrigerating fluid about the individual cups 59 of the molds so that the liquid in the cups is very quickly chilled and frozen. The rate of production of the stick confection by the refrigerating apparatus is substantially increased by the provision of the apertures 49 in the deck since the period of time each mold must remain in the refrigerating apparatus is reduced appreciably.

The tank H may be provided with a conventional mold pusher 62 whose opposite ends 63 and 64 are connected to gear racks 65, one of which can be seen in Figures 1 and 2. The gear racks are actuated by a pneumatic or hydraulic ram assembly 6t and are longitudinally slidable on the side walls [5 and I4 of the tank H. A transverse rod 51 rotatably mounted on the side walls is provided with gears 68 and 69 which mesh with the gear racks 63 and 64, respectively to insure that the pusher 62 will be moved perpendicularly with respect to the side walls. The pusher and the pneumatic or hydraulic drive therefore being conventional and well known in the art, they are not decribed in detail. 1

In use, the tank l i is filled with a refrigerating liquid such as brine through the inlet H9 in the end wall l3 until the liquid covers the deck 25 to a depth of three or four inches. The refrigerating system connected to the cooling coils I8 is then started, the liquid refrigerant gas is evaporating and expanding in the cooling coils absorbing heat from the refrigerant liquid thus cooling the liquid well below 0 centrigrade. The motor 34 drives the propeller 3| causing the refrigerant liquid to circulate through the aperture 35 in the partition 28, over the cooling coils'l8 and up through the apertures 49 in the deck 26 as'well as between the gate 45 and the end wall [3. ,The

made-:wlthoutnieparting:frometherinventiomand t isrintendedmheneforedn the-:appendedmlaims to na rate DfeflOW .of,-liquid-.propelledrth-roughzthe(aperctures 49 is: controlled ,adjustingsthe .position of 1. t'sthegate 40 withtrespect :to ith'eend. wall [3; a; The cover .allr-zsuclr-changes :andimodifications.asifall wcloser. -..the gate. 140 is-:.placed rto --.the.: end wall l 3, iwithinzthe itruexspirit ianchscope; ofcthe: invention. .sc the-greaterzwill be-the rateofviiow ofvtheuliquid What is claimed is:

through the aperturesude. .1.mmiconfectioniretrigeratingr:apparatusrcom- A transverseirow.rofumolds. 50; .onenbetweenreach prisingi artankradapted to containzazrefrigerant ;-.;.-pair .ot-gu-ide rails, is then-'placed-on the1deck 26 quid andrhavings:insulatedlsidezrandsendawalls; adj acent the. end-wall :73. zc'lhe pusher 62is.- then perforaterdeck disposed:iundensthe:ssurfaceof :moved' byrthe pneumatic or hydraulic a sem ly 101i thejjliquid inisaidatankl:andrspaced at itssiends 55 o p the ld e length w d t e e d 7:: frointthe endiiwalls of; said-:tank.toz-formiliquid wa11 J3firziIh pusher is their returnedito its 11:;circulatingipassageways atibothiendsotthe-zdeck; r ei l p i i ni .A- ondtr n v rse row of rrrmeansldisposedrrin thertank.below thei.*deck for mo d is p d o the c 6 betw the first :urcoolingrsai'd refrigerant liquid,tarvertical partirow and the end W l ,-t 'e'pusher is again jj. c:tion depending intoi said: tankxfrom one endof l ma t p h been rows of molds f rw d One saidideckibetween. said refrigeranhrcoolingtmeans ""l fl 0I1-11Ilti'1' e "deck ZFiSWOVeTed tandivonerendofzsaidlitankto define one-of said 'fwith rows of molds.- During the'movement 0f the passageways i Saidfivelficailk:partitionxzhavjngy an e d w the d W831i the refrigerant deepening.:rthereimia .i series of: .tran-sversely spabed -'-'-"liquidflOWS- OVET- thd deck 2 6 between thelongl -l. zo uguides qfljspgse'dg lgngitudinally dnsthemaeckwfor tudinal rows of molds which are spaced by the" guide rails 45. The flow of the refrigerant liquid coming up between the gate 40 and the end wall l3 and over the deck 26 would not be sufficient to provide proper thorough circulation between the wall 60 of the individual cups 59 of the molds being restricted somewhat by the frame or carrier 5| of each mold and in addition tending to flow only in a longitudinal direction through the spaces 6| between the cups. The flow of refrigerant liquid through apertures 49, however, causes a sufiicient circulation of liquid between the cups not only in a longitudinal direction but also in transverse directions with respect to the molds. This more complete and thorough circulation of the cold refrigerant liquid quickly removes heat from the molds and the liquid in the cups freezes. When the fluid in the cups of the row nearest the end wall is frozen, the pusher is again actuated and the first transverse row of molds moves up the inclined portions 41 of the guide rails and can then be pulled up on the drain 48 and removed from the apparatus. Another transverse row of molds is then placed adjacent the wall 13. The freezing process then becomes continuous, a transverse row of molds on the inclined portion 41 of the guide rails being removed as another transverse row is placed on the deck adjacent the wall IS.

The brine may be drained from the tank through a drain outlet H in the end wall l2.

It will be seen now that a refrigerating apparatus has been provided in which a refrigerating liquid is circulated over a deck 26 on which rows of molds are positioned to quickly cool the molds. It will also be seen that the deck is provided with apertures through which the refrigerant liquid is expelled against the underside of the molds to promote more thorough circulation of the liquid about the molds and hasten the freezing of liquid contained in the molds.

The refrigerant liquid is circulated over the deck in the same direction as the movement of the mold in order to avoid the formation of excessive amounts of foam, but because of the turbulence created in the brine more rapid freezing of the confection is attained.

If desired, the partition 28 may be dispensed with and vertically driving pump or propeller could be installed adjacent the end wall l2. The horizontally driving pump or propeller 28 is pre ferred since it does not tend to produce foaming of the refrigerating liquid.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be progressively receiving articles to undergo heat exchange; and means in the opening of said vertical partition for circulating the refrigerant liquid from above the deck through one of said passageways below the deck and upwardly through the other of said passageways and the perforations of said deck to above said deck and into contact with the undersides of the articles on said guides.

2. A refrigerating apparatus comprising an elongate open topped tank adapted to contain a refrigerant liquid and having insulated side and end walls; an elongate perforate deck disposed longitudinally in said tank and having its ends spaced from said end walls to form liquid circulating passageways at both ends of the deck; a vertical partition defining the passageway at one end of said deck, said partition having an opening therein; means disposed in the tank below the deck for cooling said refrigerant liquid, a plurality of transversely spaced guides disposed longitudinally on the deck from end to end thereof for slidably receiving articles for freezing; means operable in the opening of said vertical partition for circulating the refrigerant liquid from above the deck through said opening to below the deck and upwardly through the passageway at the opposite end of said deck and upwardly through the perforation in said deck into contact with the undersides of said articles; and means for adjustably varying the passageway opposite said vertical partition to vary the rate of flow of said refrigerant liquid through said apertures.

3. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a tank adapted to contain a refrigerant liquid and having insulated side and end walls; a perforate deck disposed in said tank from side to side thereof and having its ends spaced from the ends of said tank forming at one end of said deck an upward passageway for liquid refrigerant, a vertical partition at the opposite end of said deck having an opening therein and defining an upward passageway through which the liquid re- 5 frigerant is circulated by way of said opening over and under said deck and upwardly through said upward passageway and through the perforations in said deck, means disposed in the tank below the deck for cooling said refrigerant liquid; elongate transversely spaced guides disposed longitudinally on the deck for progressively receiving articles to undergo heat exchange; means in the opening of said vertical partition for circulating the refrigerant liquid through said passageways and said deck perforations and into contact with the undersides of said articles; and means for adjustably varying said upward passageway to vary the rate of flow of said refrigerant liquid through the perforations of said deck.

4. A confection refrigerating apparatus comprising an elongate tank containing a refrigerant liquid; a longitudinal horizontal deck disposed within the upper portion of the tank under the liquid level therein and having a plurality of longitudinally spaced perforations, a series of longitudinal channels on said deck adapted to slidably receive containers for the confection to be refrigerated, said deck being spaced at one end from an end of said tank to define a downward passage for liquid and spaced at its opposite end from the opposite end of said tank to define an upward passage for said liquid; means operable in the opening of said partition for circulating said refrigerant liquid in the tank below and above said deck through said downward and upward liquid passages and the perforations of said deck and along said channels in intimate contact with confection containers supported thereon, a plurality of cooling coils within the cabinet below said deck; and means for varying said upward liquid passage to adjust the rate of fiow of said refrigerant liquid through the perforations of said deck.

LARRY J. NAUROTH References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,817,890 Birdseye Aug. 4, 1931 1,939,109 Davidson Dec. 12, 1933 2,102,506 Bland Dec. 14, 1937 2,2 6,745 Magnuson Sept. 23, 1941 2,461,375 Eftihos Feb. 8, 1949 

